New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-30
4" LORD ARTHUR."
HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS IDEAS.


HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS IDEAS
A dapper young man, somewhat below medium
height, with a thin, ceverlookng face relieved by
carefully tended mustache and marked by dark eyes
sunken in their sockets made his way through recent
snowstorm into the st. James Hotel. long black
overcoat with deep velvet collar being thrown aside
the young man was after sitting in front Of a
blazing fire a cosey upstairs nursing neat foot
and chatting in pleasant voice 10 couple OF friends,
one OF whom Cecil Clay, the husband of Miss
Rosina Vokes. The young man was Weldon Gros
smith, the Awthaw" of the Pantomme Rehearsal
and the unhappy husband of " The Schoolmstress.'
The chat after awhile drifted into personal channel
and Mr.. Grossmh let tall much that was OF interest
concerning himself and his experiences. Though
short one IL has so far brought him INTO
prominence and individually gained him many friends
among the people he has amused. lie comes OF u
family to whom the public owe much IN the direction
OF Entertainment His father for years well
known in and around London rs clever lecturer and
entertainer while his brother George has created the
principal comedians part In all the Gilbert and
Sullivan comic operas in London Before this George
Grossmlth was known as clever musical monologst.
Weldon Grossmth having an inherited fondness for
painting passed five or six years of his early lie as
student ut the Royal Academy. lie had sufficient
talent to warrant him in adopting painting as his LIE
aud scr several years he devoted himself 10 u
with considerable For eight successive years
he exhibi'cd the Academy and for more than hall
that time nj the Grosvenor Gallery.
Finally" said he, 4" took up portrait painting
altogether. But took IL mp at tho wrong time.
Portrait painting more than any other branch
depends upon the state of affairs among the richer
classes. need not remind you that about three years
ago when | launched ont into the extravaganza of
house and studio in Harley--t. matters not at
their brightest among the English and-owning class.
Since then they have steadily got worse and found
the outlook not particularly cheerful. All branches
of suffering and is only those at the very top
of the profession who manage to get along. Then l
began 10 think seriously of the stage My friends,
D'Oyly Carte and Wyndhsm. had often spoken 10 me
.1n byhp Mr IL IN aIn I'M p n
offer TO come with him To America determined TO
accept il and what could do. So came out here
last and am glad to say was well received
that | am now balancing between painting and
acting You know that can do well in two arts,
one must be subscrvient TO the other; whichever
think do less badly than the other shall probably
stick to- One Of my friends told me lately that TO his
surprise my acting worse than my painting. but
found he had seen neither, 80 think he must have
been preiudiced." Two of Mr.. Grossmith's pictures
lately ut the American Art Association
galleries Concerning these he said
have always sriven 10 have my pictures exhibited
on their merits alone went to the secretary of the
exhibition and simply asked for information as to sub
hitting Il couple of pictures for approval They knew
nothing Of me and did not seem impressed with the
idea that an unknown could send any thing worth
having. However, l told them would send two
pictures and let them choose one or neither To my
qualification, they took both. though they are quite
large, and hung them eXcellenty. have now been
asked to send them to Philadelphia, and shall OF
course do So" .
While in America SIR. Grossmith has naturally paid
much attention the state of art he sees II here.
He wsgged his head rather dismally as he sad
have always wondered where all the indifferent French
pictures went to. One them ih Partisan studios
and at the Salon. and then they disappear, nave
solved the mystery. They are bought by Americans
Not only IL the English school practically 9nrepre-
scented here IL appears to but the work OF Ameri-
Is neglected equally i'll favor of indifferent French
work. do not mean to say that IN England the
public are very much more highly educated. but we
have many men, chiefly among the rich manufacturers,
who buy according to their own Judgment In Eng
land, by the way the arstocracy or what IN current
al. thp m
ceased to be picture buyers They so to tho private
views OF the Academy and Grosvenor to see and be
seem gancing occasionally at the pictures but That
ends IT,"
Leaving the consideration of painting. Mr. Grossmlth
talked about his present profession think my
artistic training has helped mo wonderfully as an
actor. unconscionsy feel how stage picture should
be composed in the first place. and In the second
have been accustomed tor years to study character
DO study from life 7 Most assurodly 80. l en-
deavor, however, to present a type ana not an In
dvidual it think the strength Of our great
English character actor, Hare Yes in this HIS sam
Gcrridge in Caste was no one particular gas'man,
II was the English gas man as whole In my small
way tried to do this Lord Arthur, for example;
lie unites in himself thr component parts OF several
mon know, and he stands type Of them all. Inc
hesitating speech comes from ono, inc hat rom
another, the coat from another tho querulous tone
from still another. have studied the genus s"eh
Father thoroughly and have still another species or
two to add to my gallery. II it were possible Tor
character to be elective without Ills saying woru,
think could give the most typical oil the ciass hs
they appear in London They never speak. Clay has
a story Of a dinner at the Guards or some military
club lie and scientific friend were dihhRat on'
table and two typical young guardsmen at the next
Clay and the scientific chap were discussing the comet
which was then blazing London Their neighbors
gravey ate their dinner in solemn silence. lays
frieno went giving interesting information ovuent
ly listened to and partially comprehendea 9y tne
gallant officers. Finally Clay and the scientist nnsnea
their dinner and passed into the hall The two guards
marched after them in solemn silence and went 10
the door, They looked out graveiy ana tnch o ON,
pointed to the sly and sad: 'Aw. There's the
= thing r-and without another word they came III
and smoked a silent cigar In the smoking room .,o
When asked If he had not thought OF studying '"o
Ncw-YorS species, Mr.. GrossInith said .. 7
suppose have not been hore long enough ou.
must frankly confess he Is rather beyond me n ~
l see the machine working, but haven't yet gov TO
understand the mechanism. They are certainly T
study, however, and shall try to devote my ,,;n
time 10 them. am told that one club here ~ getlinE
so exclusive that the members now don't SPEAK &c
other for tear of making mistake and addiesssg
whose ancestry Is not quite pure. After Ill ypo
know, has not TO 20 to the very bottom Oh .no
social ladder order to find interesting charac.e'
There is much under faultess dress suit 10 unaer
n fustian jacket"
frat Mr. tMoodv uaed IN and down tho business